SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The No. 19 TCNJ field hockey team was unable to make an early advantage stand up as the Lions suffered a tight 2-1 loss at Swarthmore on Wednesday afternoon.
Isabel Maher gave the Lions (3-2) the upper hand with a first-quarter marker, but the Garnet equalized in the third before finding a winner early in the final period.
Swarthmore (3-2) knocked off a top-20 opponent for the second straight game after upsetting then-No. 8 Stevens its last time out.
Maher delivered the opener late in the first frame, punching home her own rebound with 2:56 to go for her first goal of the season and an early 1-0 lead.
The Garnet, however, pulled even on Annika Hoyer's goal with 6:19 to play in the third, and the hosts had a golden opportunity for a quick go-ahead goal when they were awarded a penalty stroke later in the stanza.
Brigitte Racey came through with a huge stop, diving to her right to parry away the attempt and keep the game knotted at 1-all.
TCNJ went on the attack as the final frame got underway, with
Olivia Cano,
Avery Vacca, and
Jadyn Huff all putting shots on target in a blitz. But Swarthmore stunned the blue and gold against the run of play, grabbing the lead as Hoyer set up Libby Castle with 11:51 remaining.
Prisha Dhruve and
Avery Gower tested the Garnet keeper with on-cage efforts, but TCNJ was left unsatisfied in its efforts to find a late equalizer.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- TCNJ outshot the Garnet, 13-9, including a 6-1 advantage in the fourth quarter
- The Lions inserted nine corners to Swarthmore's six, with five of them coming in the last 15 minutes
- Swarthmore keeper Josie Sarno finished with eight saves
STANDOUT LIONS
- Maher netted the 17th goal of her career
- Gower led all players with three shots on goal
- Huff and Maher each put two shots on cage
- Racey made four saves
NOTES
- Playing in her 63rd career game, Racey passed Kristina Beyel (2002-05) and Kelly Schlupp (2013-16) for the 3rd-most appearances by a goalie in program history
- Cano's first career shot forced a save from Sarno
- The Lions have not been shut out in any game this season
- TCNJ and Swarthmore have met in each of the last three seasons; all three games were one-goal wins by the home side
UP NEXT
- The Lions return home to face William Smith on Saturday
